Connect & Create Relay Scheme 2026: Professional Development and Mentoring for Young Communications Professionals in Africa

Are you a journalist, communications professional, content creator, influencer, media presenter, or communications specialist based in Sub-Saharan Africa?

The Connect & Create Relay Scheme 2026 is offering an opportunity for young communications professionals to strengthen their skills, gain practical experience, and develop their professional networks while contributing to cultural projects in their own countries.

The programme is part of Connect & Create – Strengthening Cultural Ties Between Africa and Europe, an initiative focused on supporting cultural cooperation, professional development, mobility, networking, and sustainable connections between Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe.

The Relay Scheme is specifically designed for early-career communications professionals with two to five years of professional experience in communications, journalism, media, or content creation.

Selected participants will work directly with Creative Tandem projects in their respective countries while receiving structured professional development through training and individual mentoring.

The programme will support 16 participants residing in 12 participating Sub-Saharan African countries and will run for approximately 11 months.

What Is the Connect & Create Relay Scheme?

The Connect & Create Relay Scheme is a professional development programme for young communications professionals working across the cultural and creative sectors.

It forms part of the wider Connect & Create programme, which is the Sub-Saharan Africa component of the Africa–Europe Partnerships for Culture programme.

Connect & Create is funded by the European Union and led by the Goethe-Institut and Expertise France, in partnership with the Institut français. The Relay Scheme itself is coordinated by Imago Médias.

The wider Connect & Create initiative aims to strengthen cultural relationships between Sub-Saharan Africa and the European Union through professional exchanges, capacity building, artistic cooperation, mobility, networking, and support for cultural professionals.

The Relay Scheme focuses specifically on the communications side of this work.

Participants will combine practical experience with structured learning, allowing them to contribute to cultural projects while strengthening their own professional capabilities.

What Does the Relay Scheme Offer?

The programme combines several forms of professional development.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Work directly with a Creative Tandem project in their country.
• Gain practical experience in cultural communications.
• Participate in structured professional training.
• Receive individual mentoring.
• Develop their storytelling skills.
• Strengthen their social media communication skills.
• Improve editorial planning and strategy.
• Gain experience in press and media relations.
• Develop their cultural reporting capabilities.
• Build connections with communications professionals from other participating African countries.
• Become part of the wider Connect & Create professional ecosystem.
• Receive a training certificate.
• Receive an allowance for communication activities carried out for the supported project.

The official programme description confirms that participants will complete 10 themed training sessions covering areas such as storytelling, social media, editorial strategy, and press relations, alongside one-to-one mentoring.

Who Is the Programme Designed For?

The Connect & Create Relay Scheme is aimed at young communications professionals who already have professional experience but are still developing their careers.

Eligible professional profiles include:

• Journalists
• Communications professionals
• Communications specialists
• Content creators
• Influencers
• Media hosts
• Media presenters

Applicants should have between two and five years of professional experience in communications, journalism, media, or content creation.

The programme is particularly relevant to professionals who have already built some experience and an audience but want to strengthen their professional skills through practical cultural communications work.

Age Requirement

Applicants must be over 18 years old.

This means applicants must have reached adulthood by the time of application.

The programme is intended for young professionals, but the official eligibility requirement specifically establishes that applicants must be over 18 rather than giving a separate upper age limit.

Professional Experience Requirement

Applicants must have two to five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Communications
• Journalism
• Media
• Content creation

This requirement means the programme is not intended solely for people who are completely new to communications.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate previous professional work and provide evidence through their CV and portfolio.

Interest in Culture and the Creative Industries

Applicants should have an interest in:

• Performing arts
• Music
• Cultural communication
• Cultural reporting
• Creative industries
• Arts and culture-related projects

The programme connects communications professionals with Creative Tandem projects, meaning applicants should be interested in communicating cultural and creative work to audiences.

This makes the opportunity particularly relevant to professionals who enjoy storytelling, cultural journalism, digital media, social media, arts communication, and creative-sector content.

Audience and Local Presence

Applicants should have an active audience and demonstrate a meaningful local presence.

This can be demonstrated through:

• Social media platforms
• Media platforms
• Community networks
• Professional networks
• Other relevant communication channels

The official programme states that particular attention will be paid to applicants’ experience, motivation, local roots, and audience reach.

This means applicants should not only demonstrate professional experience but should also show that they understand and engage with their local communities and audiences.

Language Requirement

Applicants must be proficient in either:

• English, or
• French

Applications can be submitted in either English or French.

The CV and portfolio materials should therefore be prepared in one of the accepted languages where required.

Eligible Countries

The Connect & Create Relay Scheme is open to applicants residing in one of 12 participating countries.

These countries are:

1. South Africa
2. Benin
3. Cameroon
4. Ghana
5. Guinea
6. Kenya
7. Mali
8. Mozambique
9. Uganda
10. Republic of the Congo
11. Rwanda
12. Senegal

Applicants must reside in one of these countries to be eligible for the Relay Scheme.

Applicants living in other African countries should not assume that they are eligible simply because the programme is generally focused on Sub-Saharan Africa. The Relay Scheme specifically identifies these 12 participating countries.

What Will Participants Do?

Participants will work directly with a Creative Tandem project in their own country.

The practical component allows participants to apply their communications skills to real cultural projects rather than learning only through theoretical training.

Depending on the project and participant’s role, activities may involve areas such as:

Storytelling

Participants can use storytelling techniques to communicate the ideas, people, activities, and impact associated with cultural projects.

Effective storytelling can help audiences understand why a cultural project matters and encourage greater engagement.

Social Media

Participants will develop experience communicating cultural projects through social media.

This can include developing content, engaging audiences, supporting campaigns, and using appropriate platforms to increase visibility.

Editorial Planning

Editorial strategy is another important component of the programme.

Participants can develop skills in planning content, identifying relevant themes, structuring communications activities, and maintaining consistent messaging.

Media Relations

Participants can gain practical exposure to communicating with media outlets and journalists.

This can include developing media-facing content and supporting efforts to generate media attention for cultural projects.

Cultural Reporting

The programme also provides an opportunity to develop experience in cultural reporting and communications.

This can involve communicating stories related to performing arts, music, cultural activities, creative practitioners, and related projects.

Training Programme

The professional development component includes 10 themed training sessions.

The official programme identifies areas including:

• Storytelling
• Social media
• Editorial strategy
• Press relations

The sessions are designed to strengthen participants’ practical communications capabilities while they work on their assigned cultural projects.

The training component allows participants to complement their existing professional experience with structured learning.

Individual Mentoring

Participants will also receive one-to-one mentoring.

Individual mentoring can provide a more personalized professional development experience, allowing participants to receive guidance relevant to their own career development and communications work.

Combined with the group training sessions and practical project experience, the mentoring component creates a multi-dimensional professional development structure.

Professional Network

Another important benefit of the programme is access to a professional network.

Participants will have opportunities to connect with communications professionals from the participating African countries as well as the broader Connect & Create ecosystem.

This can help participants:

• Exchange ideas.
• Learn from professionals in other countries.
• Discover different approaches to cultural communications.
• Build professional relationships.
• Explore potential future collaborations.
• Gain exposure to regional cultural and creative networks.

For early-career communications professionals, these connections can become an important part of long-term professional development.

Training Certificate

Participants will receive a training certificate as part of the programme.

A certificate can provide formal documentation of participation in the professional development programme and can be included in future professional portfolios, CVs, and applications where appropriate.

Financial Support

The programme provides an allowance for communication activities carried out for the supported project.

The information provided does not specify a single fixed amount for the allowance.

Applicants should therefore consult the official guidelines for the precise financial arrangements, eligible activities, and any applicable conditions.

Programme Duration

The Relay Scheme provides approximately 11 months of support.

According to the official timeline, the programme is expected to begin in late January or early February 2027.

This extended period allows participants to combine practical project work with training, mentoring, and professional networking.

Application Timeline

Applicants should pay close attention to the programme timeline.

Applications Open

15 September 2026

Application Deadline

13 October 2026

Shortlisting

14 October to 3 November 2026

During this period, applications will be reviewed and candidates will be shortlisted.

Creative Tandem Project Proposal

5 to 19 November 2026

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit a proposal for a Creative Tandem project.

Announcement of the 16 Connect & Create Hubs

7 December 2026

The selected hubs will be announced.

Programme Start

Late January or early February 2027

The professional development programme is expected to begin around this period.

Application Requirements

Applicants are required to submit an online application.

The application should include:

1. Online Application Form

Applicants must complete the designated online application form.

2. Short CV

Applicants must provide a short CV in either English or French.

The CV should clearly demonstrate relevant professional experience in communications, journalism, media, or content creation.

3. Portfolio

Applicants must provide a portfolio containing two to three examples of previous work.

The portfolio is important because it allows applicants to demonstrate their practical communications capabilities rather than relying solely on descriptions in their CV.

Examples could include relevant work such as:

• Published articles
• Journalism work
• Social media campaigns
• Digital content
• Cultural reporting
• Video or multimedia content
• Editorial projects
• Communications campaigns
• Media work
• Other professional communications outputs

Applicants should choose examples that best demonstrate their communication skills and experience.

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Applicants should approach the application as an opportunity to demonstrate both professional experience and a clear interest in cultural communications.

Demonstrate Relevant Experience

Clearly explain your professional experience over the last two to five years.

Focus on work that demonstrates communications, journalism, media, content creation, storytelling, or audience engagement.

Make Your Portfolio Relevant

Do not simply submit random examples of previous work.

Choose two or three pieces that demonstrate your strongest and most relevant communications abilities.

Where possible, select work that demonstrates:

• Storytelling
• Audience engagement
• Editorial judgment
• Social media communication
• Cultural or community reporting
• Media relations
• Creative content production

Demonstrate Local Understanding

Because the programme emphasizes local roots and working with Creative Tandem projects in participants’ countries, applicants should demonstrate their understanding of their local audience and cultural environment.

Explain Your Motivation

Applicants should clearly communicate why they are interested in cultural communications and how participation in the programme could contribute to their professional development.

Highlight Audience Reach

If you have an established audience through social media, media platforms, websites, community networks, or other channels, provide relevant evidence.

Audience reach should be presented accurately and, where possible, supported with measurable information.

Who Should Consider Applying?

The opportunity may be particularly relevant to professionals who want to combine communications with culture and the creative industries.

Potential applicants include:

• Early-career journalists
• Digital communications professionals
• Social media professionals
• Content creators
• Cultural journalists
• Media presenters
• Influencers
• Storytellers
• Communications specialists
• Creative-sector communicators

The strongest fit will generally be professionals who can demonstrate relevant experience, an active audience, local connections, and a genuine interest in performing arts, music, and cultural industries.

About Connect & Create

The Relay Scheme forms part of the broader Connect & Create – Strengthening Cultural Ties Between Africa and Europe programme.

Connect & Create is the Sub-Saharan Africa component of the Africa–Europe Partnerships for Culture programme, which is funded by the European Union.

The wider initiative aims to strengthen cultural ties between Sub-Saharan Africa and the European Union through cooperation, inclusion, sustainability, professional development, and cultural exchange.

The programme includes several support areas for professionals in performing arts and music, including:

• Connect & Create Relay Scheme
• Mentoring Scheme
• Circulation of Performing Arts and Music
• Professional Mobility
• Creative Tandems

The Relay Scheme specifically focuses on communications professionals.

Focus on Young Professionals

Connect & Create places particular emphasis on younger generations and emerging cultural scenes.

The wider programme recognizes the importance of young people’s creativity, energy, and leadership in shaping future Africa–Europe cultural relationships.

The programme also highlights priorities including:

• Supporting younger generations
• Promoting emerging cultural scenes
• Originality
• Connection to local context
• Sustainable collaboration
• Environmentally responsible approaches
• Inclusion
• Accessibility

Key Details at a Glance

Detail	Information
Programme	Connect & Create Relay Scheme
Focus	Cultural communications and professional development
Number of participants	16
Programme duration	11 months
Target professionals	Journalists, communications specialists, content creators, influencers, media presenters
Experience	2–5 years
Age	Over 18
Language	English or French
Geographic eligibility	12 specified Sub-Saharan African countries
Training	10 themed sessions
Mentoring	One-to-one mentoring
Practical experience	Work with a Creative Tandem project
Certificate	Training certificate
Support	Allowance for communication activities
Application opening	15 September 2026
Application deadline	13 October 2026
Shortlisting	14 October–3 November 2026
Proposal stage	5–19 November 2026
Selected hubs announced	7 December 2026
Programme start	Late January/early February 2027

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for the Connect & Create Relay Scheme 2026 is:

13 October 2026

Applications must be submitted through the official online application process.

Applicants should not wait until the final day to prepare their CV and portfolio, particularly because the portfolio is an important part of the application.

The official Institut français page confirms the application opening date of 15 September 2026 and the deadline of 13 October 2026.

Click HERE to read more and apply.

Conclusion

The Connect & Create Relay Scheme 2026 offers young communications professionals in selected Sub-Saharan African countries an opportunity to combine practical cultural communications work with structured professional development.

Through an approximately 11-month programme, selected participants will work with Creative Tandem projects in their countries while receiving training in areas such as storytelling, social media, editorial strategy, and press relations. They will also receive individual mentoring, a training certificate, professional networking opportunities, and an allowance for communication activities associated with their supported project.

The opportunity is particularly relevant to journalists, communications professionals, content creators, influencers, and media presenters who already have two to five years of professional experience and have developed an active audience or meaningful local presence.

Applications are open from 15 September 2026 until 13 October 2026. Eligible professionals who are interested in cultural communications, performing arts, music, and the creative industries should review the official guidelines, prepare a strong CV and portfolio, and submit their application before the deadline.

Click HERE for more trainings.